Pol Roger, Vintage Brut, Champagne, France, 2015

Overview of the Wine
Pol Roger is one of the few remaining family-owned grande marque Champagne houses. Their grande marque status was guaranteed at the turn of the century when about 20 producers banded together to establish exacting quality controls for Champagne. The annual production at Pol Roger - less than 120,000 cases - is found in the best restaurants of France, England, and the USA, and is exported to over 30 countries. Pol Roger also was the Champagne of choice of British dignitary Sir Winston Churchill, who once said of Champagne, "...In victory I deserve it, and in defeat I need it!".

Grape / Blend
60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay

Origin
Champagne, France

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
The Brut Vintage 2015 displays a lovely golden hue with silver highlights. The subtle first nose opens with notes of fleshy ethereal hints of rose petals. Expressive and full of freshness, the bouquet is reminiscent of patisserie, pastries and dried nuts. It then evolves to reveal aromas of honey and apple jelly. The palate is round and elegant. A slight zesty quality sets off the notes of brioche, patisserie and toast, combined with licorice and dried nuts. The silky texture is accompanied by a lovely lingering acidity right through to the finish.

95 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
The 2015 Champagne Brut Vintage is 60% Pinot Noir, with the rest Chardonnay, and takes on the more noble feel of the house style. The nose is fragrant and delicate with flint and wet stone, red plum, orange blossom, and spice. The palate has structure and feels the strength of the Pinot Noir and the warmth of 2015, although it has the underlying structure to last. Dry, balanced, and salty, it will need some time before opening. Allow 1-2 years and drink over the following two decades.

95 Points - Wine Enthusiast
Still young, this is a fine Champagne. Its crisp texture and fresh citrus and white fruits are still full of vivacity. The wine is textured, hinting at minerality and should be aged further. Drink from 2024.

94 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Pol Roger's 2015 Brut Vintage is generous and demonstrative, bursting with aromas of golden orchard fruit, nectarine, warm bread, buttered popcorn and orange oil. Full-bodied, broad and vinous, it's rich and fleshy, with a sweet, layered core of fruit, racy acids and a pretty pinpoint mousse. Stylistically, the 2015 has more in common with the richness and concentration of 2012 than the chiseled raciness of 2013. It's a beautiful bottle in the making.

94 Points - James Suckling
Lots of spicy apple with sliced lemons and pears and hints of stone. Full-bodied with soft and layered bubbles that caress your palate. Dusty and succulent. Creamy finish.

93 Points - Wine Spectator
A graceful Champagne, with delicate notes of white cherry, poached apricot, pickled ginger and chalky minerals dancing across the palate, carried by the finely detailed mousse. Buoyed by racy acidity, this is mouthwatering, almost crunchy, on the spice- and smoke-tinged finish.

Product size: 750ml